Letter: Real math behind Obamacare

The "facts and figures" that get thrown around about Obamacare always give me a headache. Here's what the doctor has ordered to cure Tea Party hysteria: take 2 minutes and read the law.

?The "3.8 percent tax on home sales" is actually a tax on the profits of investment income. First, it will apply only to individuals with incomes over $200,000; couples with incomes over $250,000. If the home being sold is the primary residence, the current exclusion of the first $250,000 gain for individuals ($500,000 for couples) will still apply.?

So for a single person, the real math goes like this: sell your home for $250,000 more than you paid for it and you'll pay no tax on the profit. Sell it for an additional $100,000 more and you'll pay $3,800 tax on a gain of $350,000. That's a net tax rate of 1 percent. The math is even better for a couple.?

?For some people a 1 percent tax on 6-figure investment income is really just too much to pay for health care and education in our country. Welcome to the real Romney/Ryan territory. Educate yourself and vote. It matters.